Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 16:09:11 -0500
Subject: AP STORY: Montana votes to register homosexuals
SENATE DECIDES HOMOSEXUALS MUST REPORT WHEREABOUTS TO AUTHORITIES
by Bob Anez
Associated Press writer
Helena -- Homosexuals, like murderers and rapists, are criminals in Montana
and should be required to let authorities know where they live for the rest
of their lives, the Senate decided Tuesday.
Senators agreed to include homosexuality as one of the crimes for which a
convicted person must register with local law enforcement under a lifetime
mandate.
An attempt to remove that provision from House Bill 214 failed on an 18-32
vote. The measure was endorsed on a voice vote and faces a final Senate
vote Wednesday.
Sen. Terry Klampe, D-Florence, led the effort to exclude homosexuals from
the registration requirement.
He said homosexuality may be considered deviant sexual conduct under state
law, but it is not a violent crime and has no victim like other offenses
covered by the bill: murder, rape, aggravated assault, incest, sexual
assault, and indecent exposure.
"We're not talking about whether you condone homosexuality," he said.
Sen. Fred Van Valkenburg, D-Missoula, said the rape law already covers
violent acts involving homosexuals and heterosexuals. What's more, he said,
no one has ever been prosecuted for homosexual acts so no homosexuals will
have to register and they should not be covered by the bill.
"This is much ado about nothing," the deputy Missoula County attorney told
those wanting the measure to include homosexuals. "Why are you making a big
deal out of it? It is stirring up a pot that doesn't need to be stirred."
But those wanting the provision retained were adamant.
Sen. Al Bishop, R-Billings, said he considers homosexual acts as worse than
some other crimes. "This type of action is even worse than a violent sexual
act," he said.
[Reprinted without permission]
-----------------
----- USA Today story -----
MONTANA BILL SEEKS REGISTRATION OF GAYS
From USA TODAY, Date: 03/24/95
By SHANNON TANGONAN
Montana residents who engage in homosexual sex may soon have to register
with the state, like certain other felons.
That's one intent of a bill that passed the state Senate Wednesday. The
bill is expected to be hammered out in a conference committee.
Voting along party lines, the Republican-controlled Senate agreed to
include homosexual sex in a bill requiring convicted sex offenders and other
felons to register with local law enforcement for life.
[missing text] ...that lumps consensual gay sex with murder, rape,
aggravated assault, incest, sexual assault and indecent exposure.
Republican state Sen. Al Bishop of Billings told the Senate that gay sex
is "even worse than a violent sexual act."
In Montana, it's a felony to engage in "deviant" sexual acts, but those
having consensual homosexual sex are rarely prosecuted. Sodomy laws are on
the books in 24 states.
"The intention was to require a lifetime registration for certain violent
offenders," says Senate Minority Whip Steve Doherty, who voted for an
amendment to exclude the homosexual sex provision. That failed 18-32.
"We did not feel we had any business asking gay people to register -
period," Doherty says.
Copyright (c) 1995 Gannett/USA TODAY Electronic News
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Since this issue is basically out of the Senate, it is now time to
concentrate on the governor and ask him to veto this bill.
I don't have much contact information on the Montana Governor's office, but
you can call 406-444-3111 to reach a receptionist/call-director. If anyone
can find a fax number, please send it my way.
[snipped out attribution; I'm also including the following. AK]
*************************************************
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
FLASH POINTS
Contact: Robin Kane (202) 332-6483 ext. 3311
(800) 757-7736 pager
rakngltf@aol.com
2320 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20009
*************************************************
March 22, 1995
Helena, MT -- State Moves to Require Life-Time Registry for Certain
Criminals and Targets Gays and Lesbians-- March 23, 1995
Issue: The Montana State Senate will likely vote tomorrow to require
offenders of the state's sodomy law to register for life with local law
enforcement officials. According to a provision in House Bill 214, those
convicted of homosexual acts between consenting adults would be included
with murders, rapists and other violent criminals in Montana's pending law
to register violent criminals.
Efforts in the state House and Senate failed to remove sodomy from the
list of crimes requiring state registration. HB 214, which cites sodomy,
murder, rape, aggravated assault, incest, sexual assault, and indecent
exposure, passed the state House and will face a final vote in the Senate on
Thursday.
Anti-gay rhetoric rang out during senate deliberations. Sen. Al Bishop
(R-Billings) said he found homosexuality to be worse than some violent
crimes. "This type of action," Bishop said, "is even worse than a violent
sexual act."
"Senator Bishop's comments are appalling and must be denounced by all
Montanans, gay and straight, for its offensiveness to survivors of violent
sexual crimes." said Robin Kane, spokesperson for the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF).
Sandra Hale, Executive Director of Pride!, a Montana gay, lesbian, and
bisexual public policy group called the bill offensive.
"What an insult to women who have been raped, children who have been
molested, and any victim of a truly violent crime - let alone, lesbians, gay
men and bisexuals who are in loving committed relationships and make up the
backbone on our Montana community," Hale said.
Some lawmakers downplayed the implications of the legislation, noting
that no Montanans have ever been prosecuted for sodomy. Activists were
quick to shoot down this reasoning.
"This bill is a frightening example of the insidious dangers of sodomy
laws," said Kane. "Sodomy laws, even when not fully enforced, classify all
gay men and lesbians as criminals and are used as weapons in public debate.
Our criminal status under these laws is cited as justification for policies
that deny us our rights and dignity."
Currently 22 states have laws barring sodomy. 6 states, including
Montana, bar only homosexual sodomy.
Local contact: Sandy Hale, Pride! Executive Director, (406) 442-9322.
NGLTF contact: Robin Kane, NGLTF Public Information Director, (202)
332-6483, ext. 3311; 800-757-7736 pager; rakngltf@aol.com.